The situation in Australia came nearly two months after Harper and Baird were at the centre of a crisis that gripped Ottawa, where a lone gunman killed a Canadian soldier and then stormed the Parliament Buildings before being gunned down by security.

A spokesman for Baird said late Sunday that the government is in close contact with its diplomatic posts in Australia.

“We urge all Canadians in Sydney to use extra precaution and limit their movements as authorities handle this situation,” Rick Roth said in an emailed statement.

“We have offered Australia any assistance Canada can provide.”

Canada has a consulate in Sydney that is roughly one kilometre from where the cafe involved, but Baird’s office said all staff at the mission are safe and accounted for.